Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark

20x24 Broadway Studio NY

June 3, 2008

I am holding my photograph of Ram Prakash Singh with his beloved elephant Shyama – taken in 1990 . Ram Prakash Singh was the ringmaster of the “The Great Golden Circus” – The photograph was done in Ahmedabad India – This was part of my Indian Circus Project – I love India and I love the circus so photographing eighteen circuses all around India was an incredible experience – Unfortunately Shyama died a few months after this photograph was taken – supposedly he succumbed to a poisoned chapatti – Ram Prakash Singh was heartbroken – me also – Mary Ellen Mark – June 3, 2008